Since the North American launch of the game, seasonal events have been part of the fabric of Vana'diel.Some of the fondest memories of long-term veterans of the game are chasing down costumed townfolk to give them candy or fighting the mighty treants that roamed the land. Festively decorated trees, cherry blossoms, and fireworks in the night skies are just some of the ways that the towns are brightened up for the various celebrations.

Seasonal Events

New Year

To celebrate the New Year, various beasts roam around the countryside of Vana'diel waiting for adventurers to trade them items to wish the citizens of Vana'diel fortune in the New Year.

New Year's Alter Ego Extravaganza!

Coinciding with the New Year seasonal event during the month of January or February, various Alter Ego Ciphers become available from various venues. These are the Trust Ciphers available during the New Year period:

§ From the Far East, the enigmatic Tenzen!§ The Springserpent General herself, Mihli Aliapoh!§ Valaineral R Davilles, master of the Uriel Blade!§ Coming to you straight from Abyssea, Joachim!§ Bane of beastmen, the Red Rose Warrior, Noillurie!§ The fiery Elivira, captain of the Gold Musketeers!§ The most patient beastmaster, Lhu Mhakracca!

§ Ferreous Coffin, the bringer of white death!§ Gilgamesh, salty samurai of the sea!§ The Tavnazian Terror, Kukki-Chebukki!§ Adoulin's eyes and ears, Margaret!§ Leonoyne, the ice-cold hero of Jugner!§ Maximilian, the cunning commander of the Bastokan 1st Legion!§ Kayeel-Payeel, Master Caster of the Aquarian War Warlocks!

Valentione's Day

To celebrate the real-world Valentine's Day, Square-Enix created Valentione's Day. Based on a timeless story of romance in San d'Oria, Valentione's Day is a time for love.

Doll Festival

Based on the traditional Japanese Hina-matsuri festival, the Doll Festival celebrates girls. Festive sets and cherry blossom trees adorn the streets of the cities, while specially created rice cakes can allow adventurers to recapture the feeling of being a little girl.

Egg Hunt

To celebrate Easter, Square-Enix created the Egg Hunt. Moogles hide eggs lettered eggs all around Vana'diel, it is up to adventurers to collect them and spell out different letter combinations to earn special prizes.

§ Rahal, Commander of the Royal Knights!§ Koru-Moru, the lovelorn professor!§ Cid, master of war machines!§ Makki-Chebukki, the "me" in meteor!§ King of Hearts, the consummate Cardian!§ Morimar, first general of the founder king!

Feast of Swords

Not to leave the boys out in the cold from the Doll Festival, the Feast of Swords takes place near the end of each April. Possessed armor from the far east have taken to fields across Vana'diel... defeat them with special swords to earn prizes.

Adventurer Appreciation Campaign

The Adventurer Appreciation Campaign is a celebration of Final Fantasy XI, coinciding with the game's anniversary each year (May 16). Moogles in the starter cities provide adventurers with hidden information and a variety of prizes as a show of gratitude for the protection that they give the citizens of Vana'diel.Starting in 2016, each Anniversary Event has a unique theme associated with it.

Adventurer Gratitude Campaign

The Adventurer Appreciation Campaign is an event that usually coincides with free login periods. Upon logging in once per Earth Week, adventurers receive a free gift. If the gift is already possessed, another is given instead.

Sunshine Seeker

Sunshine Seeker is an early summer event that further delves into some of the characters introduced in the quest Babban Ny Mheillea. Don the guise of a mandragora and complete the tasks posed to you to receive special equipment and an Alter Ego of the eponymous mandragora!

Summer Alter Ego Extravaganza!

Happening either during the month of July or August, various Alter Ego Ciphers become available from various venues. These are the Trust Ciphers available during the Summer Extravaganza:

§ From the Far East, the enigmatic Tenzen!§ The Springserpent General herself, Mihli Aliapoh!§ Valaineral R Davilles, master of the Uriel Blade!§ Coming to you straight from Abyssea, Joachim!§ Bane of beastmen, the Red Rose Warrior, Noillurie!§ The fiery Elivira, captain of the Gold Musketeers!§ The most patient beastmaster, Lhu Mhakracca!

§ Ferreous Coffin, the bringer of white death!§ Gilgamesh, salty samurai of the sea!§ The Tavnazian Terror, Kukki-Chebukki!§ Adoulin's eyes and ears, Margaret!§ Leonoyne, the ice-cold hero of Jugner!§ Maximilian, the cunning commander of the Bastokan 1st Legion!§ Kayeel-Payeel, Master Caster of the Aquarian War Warlocks!

The Green Festival

A summer seasonal event, the Green Festival, comes to Lower Jeuno! Several stalls are available for the duration of the event, but some are more... pungent than others.

Sunbreeze Festival

In an attempt to shoo away the summer heat, the MHMU created the Sunbreeze Festival. Over the years it has taken on a variety of forms, but goldfish scooping, nightly fireworks, and the Fantastic Fraulein Mumor stage show are always among the festivities to help adventurers beat the summer doldrums!

Day of the Shadow Lord

During the event, players will occasionally receive the Shadow Lord's storied blade, the Lament, as spoils for completing the Shadow Lord Battle battlefield. Don't miss this opportunity to test your mettle against the Shadow Lord once more, held at the end of August through the month of September.

Buffalo Blitz / Blazing Buffalos

As summer ends, buffalo can be spotted on the loose across the fields of Vana'diel. The MHMU magically transports a herd of angry buffalo from Uleguerand Range and north down to middle lands so that the adventurers of Vana'diel can have fun herding (or being knocked around by) these angry beasts from hill to dale.

§ Rahal, Commander of the Royal Knights!§ Koru-Moru, the lovelorn professor!§ Cid, master of war machines!§ Makki-Chebukki, the "me" in meteor!§ King of Hearts, the consummate Cardian!§ Morimar, first general of the founder king!

Harvest Festival

Coinciding with Halloween (and other similar celebrations worldwide during the later half of October), the Harvest Festival has been a part of Final Fantasy XI since 2004. The event has expanded and evolve from ghoulish costumes running around town and candies to including a variety of quests with detailed storyline such as The Dark Lilies series.

The Vana'diel of your dreams is only 5 digits away!
Mog Bonanza is a special event where players get to draw numbers for the chance to win fabulous prizes such as rare armors, weapons, and not to mention the all-mighty Gil. The Ninth Vana'versary bonanza in the summer of 2011 was announced to be the final Mog Bonanza due to international gambling laws, but bonanzas resumed in early 2013 after the situation was resolved."Vana'versary" Bonanzas are held to coincide with Adventurer Appreciation Campaigns each year (May 16), with the annual Bonanza being held in November (11/11).

Starlight Celebration

To coincide with the myriad of end-of-the-year holidays on Earth, Square-Enix created the Starlight Celebration. Seasonal decorations adorn the the starter cities and the Jeuno theme song is updated to a more festive version complete with sleigh bells. Smilebringers have you deliver gifts to the children of Vana'diel and participate in a variety of other activities in return for Dream armor, a Santa-inspired armor collection, holiday trees and stockings, and a number of other special gifts. Please visit the following links for more details.

Let's Go! Vana'diel Day!

To celebrate FINAL FANTASY XI's 15th anniversary year (2017~2018); on the 15th of each month (JST) is "Let's Go! Vana'diel Day!"Something a little different comes to Vana'diel on these momentous occasions, so take a look at each month's key phrases and enjoy this very special day.

Event Period:

JST: Monthly, from the 15th at 12:00 a.m. to 11:29 p.m.

PDT: Monthly, from the 14th at 8:00 a.m. to the 15th at 7:29 a.m.

MDT: Monthly, from the 14th at 9:00 a.m. to the 15th at 8:29 a.m.

CDT: Monthly, from the 14th at 10:00 a.m. to the 15th at 9:29 a.m.

EDT: Monthly, from the 14th at 11:00 a.m. to the 15th at 10:29 a.m.

2017

June

Be on the lookout for a variety of campaigns!

Active Campaign

Campaign Effect

Wanted Dial Campaign

A new dial, the Wanted Dial, will be added to the Gobbie Mystery Box. This fresh addition can be spun once per day to receive one of the treasure coffers that drops from Wanted battle content. Additionally, the odds of the special dial yielding equipment will be boosted for the duration.

Adoulin Dial Campaign

A brand new dial will added to the Goblin Mystery Box! The Adoulin dial is usable once per Earth day and provides a variety of rewards specific to Seekers of Adoulin content, such as Skirmish stones and airlixirs from Delve. Further, the chance of receiving equipment from the SP dial will be increased.

Special Dial Campaign

Players will receive a #SP dial key each day upon logging in. This key can be traded to the NPC at the Gobbie Mystery Box to spin the special dial.

Mog Gardens Campaign

Mog Gardens will undergo the following modifications throughout the duration.

The number of shining stars received when entering a Mog Garden will be doubled.

The coastal fishing net will provide different special items.

Items may be harvest from Monster Rearing twice per day.

The following items will be sold in the gardens specially throughout the duration:

Earn from double to three times the normal amount of experience from experience chains.

Chain Capacity Point Bonus Campaign

Earn from double to three times the normal amount of capacity points from experience chains.

Chain Monstrosity Bonus Campaign

Earn from double to three times the normal amount of experience from experience chains.

Dark Matter Arcane Glyptics Campaign

Geas Fete notorious monsters in Reisenjima through Arcane Glyptics can be engraved with arcane glyptics up to six times at no additional charge, with the equipment receiving the same benefits as if they were engraved with dark matter.

Dynamis Granules of Time Campaign

Players will automatically receive all types of granules of time upon entering Dynamis.

Wildskeeper Reive Campaign - PLUS!

During this campaign, wildskeeper reives will undergo the following changes to make them more accessible.

The required fame and bayld cost of the key item required to participate have been reduced.

Enemies will drop four pinches of high-purity bayld.

Enemies will drop Mog Kupon AW-WK.

The respawn times for the following notorious monsters have been reduced:

Colkhab / Tchakka / Achuka / Yumcax / Hurkan / Kumhau

Voidwatch Campaign

All lights start at their maximum alignment values during the campaign.

During the campaign, the default light values of pearlescent, azure, golden, and silver auras will be drastically increased.

In addition, a blue treasure chest has been placed near Horst in Port Jeuno (H-8). Opening the chest will enable you to claim one of the following prizes:

Eleven varieties of Atma

One Lunar Abyssite key item

100,000 cruor

Double Synthesis Skill Increase Campaign

As the name implies, the rate of synthesis skill increase will be doubled for the duration of the campaign.

*These gains do not apply to synergy.

Domain Invasion Campaign

Throughout the campaign, during a Domain Invasion no notorious monsters other than Azi Dahaka, Naga Raja, or Quetzalcoatl will spawn.

Domain Invasion Anti-Predator Campaign

The following notorious monsters will not prowl the skies throughout the duration of the campaign:

Azi Dahaka in Escha - Zi'Tah

Naga Raja in Escha - Ru'Aun

Quetzalcoatl in Reisenjima

Geas Fete Campaign - PLUS!

Receive double the usual amount of escha silt from defeating monsters in escha areas during the campaign. Additionally, personal rewards from Geas Fete are increased by two items, and players will receive either an eschalixir, eschalixir +1, or eschalixir +2.

Vanquishing certain monsters in the following battlefields will occasionally reward players with job cards and a variety of other items.

Shemo in Port Jeuno (H-8) will also trade crests at a rate of two-to-one.

High-Tier Mission Battlefield Campaign

The number of personal drops in the following battlefields will be increased by one, and players will receive either a pluton, a pluton case, a pluton box, a chunk of beitetsu, a beitetsu case, a beitetsu box, a riftborn boulder, a boulder case, or a boulder box.

The three kingdom's background music has changed to the classic three title screen songs.

April

Trade gifts to the NPCs on platforms in the three nations for misc rewards. Includes costume powder, anv keys, Pamama Peel, and unique furnishing Adoulinian Tomatoes

Four NPCs with the name of ??? were on display in the three nations. They were in the resemblance of Vana'diel NPCs and gave hints about their names and the item they wanted. When players traded the NPCs their requested item, rewards such as Pungent Powder III, Dial Key ANV, and the then-unique furnishing Adoulinian Tomatoes were obtained.

A Goblin and a treasure chest are in place of the "Adventurer Appreciation Campaign Moogles.

Speak to the goblin for a Gil Nabber Shirt. The shirts may be used for the Goblin vs Moogles event

My Little Shadowlord

Adorn your Mog House with Shadow Lord statues!

During the campaign period, players will have a chance to obtain three types of Shadow Lord statues when completing the Rank 5 mission. In addition, synergizing the three statues together will yield a Beastman Gonfalon. Now you can show your dark side by decorating your Mog House like it was controlled by the Shadow Lord and beastmen!

16th Vana'versary Gift Campaign

All adventurers who login while the campaign is ongoing will receive a special piece of in-game armor with a Shadow Lord motif.

The Crystal War Revisited

Double EXP Campaigns

To celebrate the release of FINAL FANTASY XI's 5th expansion, "Seekers of Adoulin," the very first "Double EXP Campaign" was held. Additional Double EXP campaign were scheduled for weekends sporadically. Please visit the appropriate page for details on the next occurrence (or most recent, if none is currently scheduled) Double EXP event.

Square Enix occasionally holds double Experience and Capacity Point campaigns. Sometimes this is alternatively done in the form of a double or triple Experience and Capacity Point chain bonus instead of a base bonus. See the Monthly Adventurer Campaigns page for details.

XI Years of FINAL FANTASY XI Special Events

On May 16, 2013, FINAL FANTASY XI celebrated it's 11th anniversary of service. For this auspicious year, several special events were planned and occurred each month throughout the year. These events included continuous login campaigns which rewarded players with points exchangable for unique items for logging in each day, a special Mog Bonanza, a number of community contests, a Double EXP event, a special event to allow for free and fast access to Abyssea, and much more. See the FINAL FANTASY XI 11th Vana'versary page for all of the details.

VanaFest Golden Gobbiebag Giveaway

The Golden Gobbiebag Giveaway was a one-time lottery-style event held in Vana'diel which offered a unique variety of items not seen in previous mog bonanzas, with only one entry permitted per account.

Mog Tablet Quest

Thousands of years ago the great Moogle King Kupofried created 11 tablets inscribed with spells of happiness upon them, but the selfish bickering of his children made the king scatter the tablets across the Quon and Mindartia continents. Now it is up to adventurers to find the tablets so that the ancient magic of King Kupofried can finally bring joy to the lands. Unlike other Seasonal Events, the Mog Tablet Quest is scheduled for an indefinite period of time.